Deep Prison Part 3

"Darx! Darx, wake up! We have to keep moving."

Hisa's kind voice woke me and the rest of us who were asleep. This will be the third day that we are inside this underground labyrinth. Or at least, that is what I think. Being in an underground place with no view of sunlight or the brightness of the stars at night distorted my sense of time. I can only estimate the time we have been here.

Given the dangers that surround us, half of the group stays awake while the other sleep, and after a few hours, we change to then continue advancing through this tunnel that seems to have no end. And the worst part is how cold it is getting. Cold breath and red cheeks are noticeable in everyone. Even sleeping in a sleeping bag doesn't get you hot enough.

*coff* *coff* *coff*

"Are you okay, Shalia?" I asked her after hearing her coughing and seeing that she had a hard time waking up.

"I'm fine, but it seems I'm getting sick." She replies.

I put my hand inside my magic bag and took out a scarf that belonged to Syvis, but I had it for some reason. Most likely, I put the scarf in my magic bag by mistake on some night we spent together.

Then I wrapped the scarf around her neck.

"Thank you, Darx!" She told me while she smiled at me and at the same time hugged my arm.

"Hey, couple of lovebirds. Save that for another day, and let's get going." Seto told us.

"Ah!? N-No, I-I was helping her put on the scarf."

No wonder Shalia is beginning to have flu symptoms considering the temperature. On the other hand, I really don't feel bad. Well, I have never gotten sick in my life, and the cold is not affecting me like the others. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that I've been practicing ice magic with Ophelia. Now that I control two elements: water and wind. As C-Rank, I have the ease of being able to combine them, and thanks to Syvis and Ophelia's help, I started to practice more potent magic, creating ice magic.

"If everyone is ready, let's move on," Dante said, leading the way beside Leona.

We have yet to run into any of the other groups. However, we have already faced several groups of different monsters, which amaze me with how strong they can be. I'm sure they are stronger than the vast majority of the monsters out there, and if this weren't an elite group, I doubt I'd get out of here alive.

Leaving a narrow corridor, we arrived at an area that looked quite spacious.

"There's someone here," Hisa spoke.

Hearing Hisa's words, we all got into battle position and tried to look around, searching for the person Hisa sensed.

"We need more light," Dante said.

All of us who could use magic threw balls of light all over the cave, brightening it up a lot and letting us see that it really was a wide area. There don't seem to be any monsters, and we can only see the stalactite and stalagmite that were everywhere. At least, that was my first impression. When looking closely at the ground further in front, there was blood and the corpses of two people.

"Can you feel where exactly the person you sensed is?" Dante asked Hisa.

"It's behind those rocks," Hisa responded, pointing to a circular rock halfway up the cave.

We walked cautiously in that direction, and almost upon reaching that rock, a rather dirty man came out from behind it with a sword in his hand and attacked us while shouting like a crazy man. Leona was about to respond with her sword, but Dante stopped her.

"Wait!"

Leona simply parried the attack with her shield, and the man fell to the ground ****.

"Who the hell is this guy, and how did he get here?" Seto asked.

"I don't know, but if I don't heal him, he will die soon," Hisa said.

"Please do it!" Dante confirmed.

Hisa started to use her healing magic on the man. Meanwhile, Dante and I went to check the two bodies that were near there.

Seeing them up close, they had pretty serious injuries. One had three deep cuts on his chest and stomach where his organs began to come out, and the other had a perforation at chest level.

"What would have happened to them?" I asked.

"It was likely that!" Dante said, pointing behind the rock.

When I turned around, I saw a dead creature that looked like a giant mole with three large claws on each arm.

"There are groups of adventurers or bandits who ignore the dangers even knowing that they are not at the level of the risks they may face, blinded by the prizes they may be able to find," Dante spoke, "It seems that this was a group of adventurers who did just that even though since the discovery of the cave, it was classified as an A-Rank dungeon."

Sometime after Hisa healed the man, he finally woke up, and we were able to ask him some questions. And just as Dante suspected, he was part of a group of C-Rank adventurers who tried to get ahead of the adventurers who would come from the capital. They went quite far until they encountered monsters and were defeated. Only he survived, and he's been hiding for almost a week. His food ran out, and surely if we had not found him, he would have died.

"Unfortunately, we can't walk with you to the exit. We have already been advancing for several days and cannot go back now," Seto told him, "The way we came from is safe since we killed everything that came our way, so you should be able to get out on your own."

"You still don't understand." The man spoke, "Do you think I haven't tried to get out? When my food was about to run out, I decided to try to get out many times. I didn't want to die here alone! But no matter how many times I try, I always end up in this same place."

"What? What do you mean? There's only one way." Leona spoke.

The man just raised his arm and pointed to the path by which we got to this place. To everyone's surprise, when seeing in that direction, there was not only one entrance like I, and we all were sure that there was, but there were three entrances, one next to the other.

"What's going on?" Gerald asked, confused.

"I told you! Now you are also trapped here! We are all going to die here! It is a cursed place made for no one to get out!" The man said as he began to cry.

We were all puzzled as we knew there was only one entrance when we arrived apart from another access that is on the opposite side of the cave, which we assume is the way to continue advancing.

After approaching the entrance, Dante asked, "Hisa, can you tell which is the true path?"

Hisa placed two fingers on her head at the level of her forehead but on the right side and closed her eyes for a few seconds, "I can't tell which is the true path," Hisa replied, "It seems to be some illusion magic, but I can't figure out how it works."

"What will we do then?" Shalia asked, looking a little worried.

"Keep moving!" Neku replied, "Our mission is at the bottom of this cave. We have no reason to worry about how to get out right now."

"Neku may be right. Maybe deep down, we will find how to break this illusion magic." Hisa asserts.

"What will we do with him?" Leona asked, pointing with her head at the man on the ground, still on the verge of a nervous breakdown, "It will be difficult to protect him while we are in battle."

All this time, I was just wondering why everyone was ignoring that there was a bright blue mark on this far-right wall. I was curious, so I approached it. I didn't see it until now. I wonder if it appeared along with the other two entries. When I was closer, I saw that they were some blue letters about two meters high on the wall that shone in blue.

Shalia and Neku approached me shortly after.

"Is something wrong, Darx? Are you feeling alright?" Shalia asked me.

"Hmm? I'm fine! I was just wondering what this is and why those letters shine that way?"

"Letters?" Shalia asked, confused, looking in the direction I was looking, "What letters?"

"Mmm? Don't you see them!? They're there!" I said while pointing with my finger.

Shalia again looked at me, looking confused, "Darx, I don't see anything."

I turned my attention to Neku and asked her, "Can you see them, Neku?"

"I don't see anything either."

"W-Wait, really!?"

What's going on? Why can't they see them?

"Wait here, Darx. I'm going to bring Hisa here," Shalia told me, "Maybe she will know what's going on."

Shalia ran towards the rest of the group, who were still trying to resolve the mystery of the entrance, and she brought everyone here. To my surprise, no one except me could see those shining letters, not even Hisa.

"And what those it say?" Seto asked.

I turn to see the wall and say a loud the message written in blue. "Frozen Path"

As I said those words, the wall blurred for an instant, and one more entrance appeared just below where the blue letters were.

"W-What just happened?" I said, puzzled.

"I think the illusion magic disappeared," Hisa said, "I can feel that this was the way we came."

I went back to see where the other three entrances were, and now there was nothing—just the frozen wall.

"Darx, how did you do that?" Seto asked.

"Uh? I-I don't know... I only read what was written."

"What do you mean you don't know? You just-" Gerald was about to say but was interrupted by Dante.

"If he doesn't know, there's no point in asking him more. We don't know what's going on in this cave, so let's not lose our composure."

The adventurer saw what had happened, and after being confirmed multiple times by Hisa that this was the authentic way out, he went this way after we gave him some food to endure the return. For our part, we continued advancing with the only difference that Dante asked me if I saw something strange, I would instantly let him know. I'm sure everyone is confused, just like me, but they tried to avoid asking me things I don't know myself. Only Neku was the one who constantly stared at me while we walked.

After hours and hours of advancing and fighting with more monsters, we reached a quiet area where we could sleep for a couple of hours. Leona, Hisa, Seto, and Gerald were the first to sleep, while Dante, Shalia, Neku, and I stood guard.

We moved away from those who were sleeping to be able to talk and eat a little without waking them up. During all this time, I felt Neku's gaze. At first, I didn't say anything, but after a while, I decided to ask her if she needed anything from me, "Neku, is there something you want to tell me?"

Neku didn't answer immediately and just stared at me, "Darx, once we return to the capital, you need to be ready."

"Ready? For what? I'm not understanding." I reply.

"Don't pretend that you are not aware of the importance of your eyes. Our goddess [Imris] left her descendants to guide all humans. It is your duty to demand the place that corresponds to you."

Neku's words left me in shock. She barely talks, and when she does, she says something like this!? "Neku, I think you're confused. I have nothing to do with [Zrephia's] royalty. The color of my eyes is just a coincidence." I reply.

"The one who is confused is you. All of us who believe in the Goddess [Imris] have no doubts about you, and when you decide to claim your rightful place, we will be by your side, supporting you until the end."

"Neku, if someone who shouldn't listen to what you just said, you could be sentenced for treason against the queen," Dante spoke, "I know of your devotion to the goddess [Imris] and the church, but you can't say those things freely."

"It's true, Neku." Shalia added, "Darx is a normal guy."

"I am not afraid of the consequences as I side with our goddess. Darx is the one who should be on the throne as a royal descendant of [Zrephia]."

"What?"

I wasn't quite getting what Neku was referring to until now that she said it clearly. W-What nonsense. I? As a king? I don't know what Neku or the church is up to, but Herald was right. I must be careful of their craziness.

"Neku, what are you saying? There's no way Darx-"

Shalia was trying to speak, but Neku cut her off, "If you really are on Darx's side, you should advise him not to escape from his responsibilities."

Neku then stood up and went to sit somewhere away from us, leaving us with an awkward silence.

"What was all that?" I said.

"Neku was an orphan mainly raised by church orphanages, so her upbringing can be a bit controversial, to say the least," Dante spoke, "The people who come out of those orphanages are usually very devoted to the goddess [Imris] and the church. So don't think badly of Neku. She just shows her beliefs with a lot of passion."

"Still..." Shalia said.

"I know, " Dante said, "I understand why the devotees of the church are confused with Darx, but ultimately you, Darx, will choose your own path," Dante continues while looking at me, "Not the church or the queen but yourself so don't pay too much attention to that at the moment. For now, focus on this quest."

"I-I understand!"

"Once we get back, there are things Harold wants to talk with you about. You have him and me as guardians as well as good friends like Shalia, so don't worry too much."

I don't understand what's happening, but I'm lucky to have people like Harold and Dante on my side. And, of course, my friends.

After a few hours, it was our turn to sleep, so I got into my sleeping bag. After a while, I was in this dark place I was used to now, in front of Ophelia. Come to think of it, I hadn't seen her since I entered this cave.

(Where are you?)

Ophelia first asked me where I was, which is not something she usually does.

"I'm in an underground cave for a quest. I've been here for several days. Why the question?"

(I feel you are very distant on this occasion)

"It's true. I feel like I'm having a hard time staying here."

(Mmm? Is there anyone else with you? I can feel someone else)

"What? Someone else? Where?"

It's the first time Ophelia has said she can feel someone other than me.

(It's very close to you, and it's getting closer and closer)

I turned to my right side and saw a figure in the shadows of the darkness.

"Who?"

I woke up abruptly and quickly got up, looking in the direction where I felt the shadow in my dream.

The direction was the corridor through which we came, but there was no one—just darkness.

"Darx? Did you have a nightmare?" Seto asked me, half laughing.

"I think there's someone there!" I reply, pointing to the dark entrance.

"Mmm, you must have had a nightmare. If someone had come close, we would know." Seto answered.

At that moment, Hisa stood up.

"Hisa?" Seto said.

"I think there was someone! It was only for a moment, but I'm sure I felt someone's presence." Hisa said.

Seto, Gerald, and Leona grabbed their weapons, but no one showed up, and Hisa told us that whoever came close had already left.

"Should we chase?" Gerald asked.

"No. I completely lost the trail, and if it's a trap, we shouldn't fall into it. Let's stay here watching. I'll be more attentive in case it happens again." Hisa spoke.

I tried to go back to sleep even though it was impossible. I couldn't stop thinking about what Neku said and whoever it was that managed to enter my dream with Ophelia.

Hours later, we all woke up, and we kept walking.

This time we got to a fairly wide bridge that crossed the big hole that was in the middle of everything. When looking up, you couldn't see the light from the torches that were at the entrance, which tells us how deep we were, and when looking down, it's the same, just darkness.

"I suppose we have to cross if we want to continue advancing," Dante said.

"We'll most likely be attacked by the monsters on the walls, so be ready," Seto added.

"Wait!" Hisa stopped us, "We are not alone!"

"Is that the person from last night?" I asked.

"I don't think so. On the other side of the bridge, I can feel several people, "Hisa continued, "It's most likely one of the other guilds."

I felt a chill run through my body. If we want to continue advancing, a confrontation with one of the other guilds will be inevitable, but which one will it be? Oblivion, Dark Dragon? Maybe the Beast-Kind guild?

"Everyone be ready," Dante told us, "Don't forget our plan, and don't hesitate to attack to kill because they will do the same."

"Yes!"

In my mind, I just hoped it wasn't Oblivion. I don't want to fight Syvis like that.

We started walking across the bridge, and a group of people began to emerge within the shadows of the entrance on the other side. However, my sight was fixed only on one—a tall woman with red hair. The group in front of us is Oblivion.

I was looking directly at Syvis however, she was avoiding my gaze. Why?

At that moment, I reacted and saw that Kase was not among the group, which means.

"[Water Barrier]"

As soon as I activated my water barrier covering the entire party, it was destroyed. Just as I thought, Kase was invisible and destroyed it with one of his attacks aimed at Hisa's neck, but luckily my barrier activated just in time. He was really trying to kill Hisa, who is our healer. The appearance of his group was to distract us and lower our guard.

"Not bad, Darx. However, this will be the place where you will die." Kase said while smiling.